A partnership between Organovo and Viscient incorporates 3D bioprinting and 3D disease models to determine novel treatments for liver disease.

Bioprinting specialist Organovo has partnered with Viscient Biosciences to create a custom research platform to study liver disease incorporating 3D bioprinting technologies.

The latest partnership builds on the two groups’ research. Specifically, it is expected to extend Organovo’s service portfolio for compound screening in disease models, which delivers insights for its drug discovery work. Meanwhile, Viscient is currently assessing early discovery of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Taylor J. Crouch, CEO, Organovo, explains that the company has seen some solid traction with biopharmaceutical companies in assessing tissue systems to aid in the discovery and development of novel drug candidates to treat liver disease.

“Our 3D disease models have the unique capability to demonstrate drug mechanisms of action and efficacy in a setting that closely mimics human livers.  We’re proud to collaborate with Viscient’s talented team as they have a strong understanding of our expertise. Our aim is to establish a custom platform that will support high-value drug profiling, and ultimately move our collaboration into a steady-state relationship.”

This Partnership Should Help 100 Million Adults

Such research is vital given that around 100 million adults in the US are currently suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and 20 million Americans are predicted to have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

If not checked, the diseases can advance to cirrhosis and cancer. Indeed, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is the second leading cause of liver transplants in the country.

The collaboration should help to expand the development of progressive therapeutic treatments.

By using 3D bioprinting technology, Viscient hopes that it can uncover such new treatment options. Bioprinting is a 3D printing method that creates cell patterns which have their function and viability preserved. The method uses a layer approach to create tissue-like structures. Understanding liver disease has been made difficult due to the lack of advanced systems to mimic human liver biology.

“Viscient is a strong believer in unlocking the power of 3D bioprinting to bring cures and treatments to patients with few options today,” said Keith Murphy, CEO, Viscient Biosciences.  “In our pursuit of breakthrough therapies in important areas of medicine, we’re eager to tap into novel, complex and more accurate disease models. Organovo’s technology provides the potential for valuable and unprecedented insights as we target new drugs in areas of unmet medical need and strong commercial potential.”

(Source: Press Release)